Locals demand in-person consultation and transparency
Online consultation criticised
AN action group campaigning against a planned largescale solar farm in North Galway has hit out at what it feels is a lack of transparency about the massive development.
Members of the Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea Against Solar Sprawl (AMASS) group have claimed that the newly launched public consultation for the Bellville Solar Farm project does not deliver “what was promised” last year.
The public consultation is being carried out by Power Capitals Renewable Energy (PCRE), which is proposing to build a largescale solar farm in townlands in the Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea areas.
Following a huge backlash from the local community during the first public consultation period over a year ago, the company promised to hold a second public consultation.
Now PCRE has launched another pre-application public consultation from Friday, June 26 to Friday, July 17. Feedback has been invited from residents and other stakeholders based on the project information available at a virtual consultation room online.
Although, there is no in-person group consultation, community members have been offered individual meetings with the project team.
“They have replaced the promise made in September last year with some static images and poorly detailed maps that residents are expected to interpret on their own,” Brendan Cronin, Chairperson of AMASS told The Tuam Herald.
He said that most residents in the area are elderly people or farmers who might not be able to go through the online consultation or send online feedback.
Brendan claims that he has never received a single communication from PCRE, even though his own home will be directly impacted by the project.
“So, if you don’t contact them, they won’t contact you and no one knows what they are going to say to the residents during individual meetings,” noted Mr Cronin.
Renewing their call for an in-person public consultation, AMASS has called a public meeting to be held on Sunday, July 12 at 6pm in Monivea.
The group is asking the developers to restart the public consultation process from scratch.
“We are inviting the public along with the local representatives and anyone else who wants to join us,” continued Mr. Cronin.
Sinn Fein’s Galway East TD Louis O’Hara recently criticised PCRE for not fulfilling their promise and called on the company to facilitate an in-person consultation event.
“This is not what was committed to earlier and the company has provided no explanation as to why they have decided to hold it this way,” commented Deputy O’Hara.
He told The Tuam Herald that the online consultation is not going to get the same participation, and it won’t be accessible for a number of people as they have “provided only two days for in-person consultation” if anyone asks for it.
“I would re-iterate my call to the company for in-person public consultation as there are genuine concerns among the members of community regarding this largescale development.
“The company needs to go face-to-face to the community, listen to their concerns and answer them properly and provide clarity,” he added.